The true cost of Ian is slowly being appreciated by the media. Now they are up to "10s of billions" in estimates. Meanwhile the average homeowner in the affected areas all across Florida are dealing with the aftermath and will continue to do so for years to come. One tiny anecdote: My brother and sister-in-law own a home in one of the affected areas. It is a seasonal residence which they inhabit for several months during the winter as a getaway from upstate New York. Friends reported water had made its way into the house, so now they are headed to Florida to fix the damage. They have no idea if there will be power and water at their place and there will be fierce competition for supplies if any stores are open. Multiply this story by thousands and you will get an idea of problems Florida residents and out of state homeowners face.
I think the final costs of Ian will be in the hundreds of billions as cleanup and rebuilding progress. Good luck finding an insurance company willing to gamble on climate change in Florida. Increasingly, the US government will be sought out as the insurer of last resort. Time to acknowledge the foolishness of beachside homes and businesses in the state.
No comments:
Post a Comment